Monday, November 24, 2014

[californiadisasters] Strong Winds, Low Humidity Mean Red Flag Warning



NBC 7 Meteorologist Jodi Kodesh describes this as "a pretty serious Santa Ana event"

By Christina London | NBC San Diego

Monday, Nov 24, 2014 • Updated at 6:58 AM PST

Strong winds and low humidity forecasted for this week means San Diego County is at an increased risk of wildfires.

"It is going to be a pretty serious Santa Ana event," said NBC 7 Meteorologist Jodi Kodesh. "The biggest that we've had since May." 

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Red Flag Warning for the mountains and inland valleys from 4 a.m. Monday to 6 p.m. Wednesday.

A High Wind Warning was also in effect with the strongest winds expected Tuesday.

"We're looking at a very serious Tuesday," Kodesh said.

Humidity levels were in the 20s and 30s, considered less than half the amount of moisture normally in the air around the county at this time of the year, she added.

In Malibu, six kayakers were pushed about a mile out to sea and had to be rescued Sunday. A group of squid fishing boats came to their rescue. No one was injured. 

Sunday afternoon, crews battled a small brush fire at the Thousand Trails Pio Pico campground in Jamul. Cal Fire first reported the wildfire around 1:20 p.m.

Firefighters stopped the spread of the fire about 20 minutes later, according to Cal Fire. The blaze burned about one acre of land.

No structures were threatened by the fire, and there is no word what sparked it.

A new online tool provided by the U.S. Forest Service, SDG&E and UCLA suggests the risk of a wildfire from this Santa Ana wind event will be marginal in San Diego on Monday and Wednesday.

That threat grows to moderate on Tuesday meaning upon ignition, fires will grow rapidly and will be difficult to control.

The Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index, a classification system that analyzes the fire threat potential of the powerful Santa Ana winds, was rolled out in September to help homeowners and fire officials prepare.

San Diego County officials urge residents to download the free emergency smart phone application SDEmergency and follow three key steps.

GET READY: Do your 100-foot defensible space in advance
GET SET: Have an emergency plan. Pack your car when Santa Anas arrive.
GO: When told to leave, leave.


Source: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/weather/stories/Strong-Winds-Low-Humidity-Mean-Red-Flag-Warning-283642841.html#ixzz3K068Gr00
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Posted by: Kim Noyes <kimnoyes@gmail.com>


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